"Oh so now you're saying it's my fault why Red lost the contest?" Alexander supplied, running his hands through his hair. "Isn't it because I was your brother?"
She wasn't glaring at him with pure malice or hatred right now so he guessed she already accepted the fact that they won second place. Alexander was glad.
"Unfortunately, yes." Andre supplied. "All of us were impressed by the artwork. Very creative, especially, those Swarovski crystals. Where'd you got them, Cat?"
"Umm-I tore it from Justin's winning gown last year's University's Fashion Festival," Red said shrilly, immediately clamping her hand over her mouth.
One didn't have to be a genius to know that not only she tore it from the gown, but she also didn't ask for permission. Red is such an open book, her expressions had already given her away.
Red plucked those crystals one by one and Alexander's body was covered with tiny red pelts and hardened glue while they were at the mall buying new clothes for a disguise.
She counted them repeatedly before putting them all in a small red velvet pouch, afraid to lose every single one of them. It was probably expensive. And it wasn't hers.
"Aren't you hungry, professor?" Red stammered as her cheeks turned pink. Trying to change the subject, wasn't she?
"Yep, you're right. I'm famished." Andre rubbed his stomach and then he looked at him. "You have money. Buy me food." He called the waiter's attention and the menu was handed to him.
"Am I a bank for you?" Alexander scowled.
Andre pretended he didn't hear a thing.
"I think I should go home." Red stammered as she stood up quickly and Alexander did the same, too. He will follow Red to the ends of the Earth. He didn't have fun with her yet.
"Come on. Let's go." Alexander said.
"Where are you both going?" Andre demanded. "I just got here."
"As I said, we're going to a party. I bought tickets for Coachella." Alexander held Red's hand and dragged her away as he waved his brother goodbye.
"What are you doing?" She said, her voice tight and a little bit squeaky now.
"Buy the tickets."
"What?"
Alexander began. "We're going to a party, remember?"
"No, I don't remember because I'm going home." She walked in a different direction and he held her small hand.
After taking a breath, Alexander continued with his explanation. "Please, it will be fun. Have you attended a Coachella before?"
"No. I have no plans of going so why would I buy the tickets?" Red stated, her eyebrows raising.
"You'll buy it. Two tickets. For you and me."
"Why?"
Alexander buried his face in his hands and rubbed it roughly before dragging them up and through his hair again. "Why do you have to question everything? A handsome, cool, nice, guy---"
"Don't forget narcissistic--" Red interrupts and Alexander repeated.
"A handsome, cool, and nice guy like me invited you to a party with celebrities. You should be all over the moon right now like a normal teenage girl. Quit asking and buy the tickets."
"First off, you told your brother you already bought the tickets to Coachella so there's no need for me to buy another two. Second, I am not a normal teenage girl. And third, I do have a brain, Alex, so don't insult me. I will not be one of your mindless groupies. Or your slave. Or your dog who will roll over when you told it to."
"Please?" Alexander showed her his cute puppy-dog look which usually sent girls screaming like crazy... but she's different. She doesn't react. At all. Alexander's charms didn't work and he was starting to panic. Alexander blurted, "I wanted to go to Coachella with you. I'm the only one from my friends who haven't got a date yet."
"Plenty of fish in the sea, lover boy."
"Just buy me the tickets. I bought food for you, didn't I? You can make it up to me if you buy them for me."
"All things will resort to blackmailing. Again. I should have expected this." Red mumbled under her breath. "I'm trying to win some money from a tattoo contest to save money and here I am spending them again for some stupid party because I thought what you bought for me is free. Just food with no strings attached. There's no such thing as free lunch in this world."
She whipped around, eyes wide with embarrassment.
It was clear she didn't mean to say that out loud.
Alexander heard that. "Don't worry at least I'm not sharing my germs with you right now. I'll let you go to the party. This night will be the last time you'll ever see me."
"For real?" Red gasped sharply, she then stammered, trying to backpedal. "I mean--It's n-not like I hate you or anything or dislike your company..." Knowing that she wasn't making this situation any better, she stopped trying.
She cursed before asking, "Where are the damn tickets?"